Six-Year-Old Dies After Eating Midday Meal In Jharkhand's West Singhbhum

Former Jharkhand CM Champai Soren slammed the state government for alleged "insensitivity" over the well-being of children.

Several children fell sick and one kid died allegedly after eating a midday meal at a Jharkhand government-run school.

Source : ABPLIVE AI

Jharkhand News: Following a midday meal at Nayagaon in Jateya Panchayat, West Singhbhum district, on Friday (28 March), diarrhoea broke out among children, allegedly resulting in the death of a six-year-old girl. The sickness allegedly affected over 20 kids.

Some children are receiving treatment at Jagannathpur Community Health Centre, while others have been admitted to a private hospital in Champua.

Children at Nayagaon Odia Primary School consumed the midday meal at the scheduled time. Subsequently, several children began experiencing vomiting and diarrhoea. Approximately seven children were taken to Jagannathpur Community Health Centre for treatment. All affected children are reportedly from Nayagaon Gop Tola.

25-30 Children Ill

Around 25-30 children are reported to have been affected by diarrhoea. One child has been referred to Chaibasa District Hospital.

The deceased was identified as six-year-old Ayushi Gope. The village head, Sanjit Kumar Tiria, said over the phone that diarrhoea had spread in the village, but no medical team had arrived since morning.

Furthermore, an healthworker sent by the health department was reportedly conducting malaria tests instead of addressing the diarrhoea outbreak, leaving villagers concerned and feeling that the health department is unresponsive.

Champai Soren Demands FIR

Given the seriousness of the situation, former Chief Minister Champai Soren expressed grief over the child's death. He said the state government has become "insensitive".

पश्चिमी सिंहभूम जिले के जगन्नाथपुर विधानसभा अंतर्गत नयागांव (जेटेया पंचायत) में स्कूल में बना मिड-डे मील खाने के बाद 1 बच्चे की मौत और दर्जनों बच्चों के बीमार होने की सूचना मिली है।

मरांग बुरु से इस दर्दनाक घटना में दिवंगत आत्मा की शांति एवं घायलों के शीघ्र स्वास्थ्य लाभ हेतु…

— Champai Soren (@ChampaiSoren) March 28, 2025

Champai Soren took the opportunity to point out the lack of timely pension payments to the elderly and widows, the insecurity of traders, and the vulnerability of representatives.

He called for a thorough investigation and immediate filing of an FIR against those responsible for the child's death. He also appealed to the state government to provide adequate healthcare to the affected children. "This Jharkhand government has failed on all fronts. Strict legal action should be taken against those responsible for this incident, and necessary steps should be taken to prevent such incidents in future," he said.

(Story by Chandramani, ABP News.)